About Orson

Alternative pop quintet Orson formed in Hollywood in 2000. Co-founders Jason Pebworth (vocals) and George Astasio (guitar) borrowed the name from cinematic icon Orson Welles, and their Tinseltown origins also inspired the band's decision to perform in vintage suits and fedoras. Lead guitarist Chad Rachild, bassist Johnny Lonely, and drummer Chris Cano completed the original lineup, which gigged throughout the Los Angeles area to little notice until the fall of 2005, when Orson self-released their debut LP, Bright Idea. Rachild resigned soon after the record's release, and upon adding new guitarist Kevin Roentgen, Orson toured the U.K. and immediately found favor with the mercurial British music press, further cultivating their European fan base via opening dates for Duran Duran. After a brief return to Hollywood, Orson relocated to London in early 2006, signing to Mercury and reissuing Bright Idea in the spring. The album topped the U.K. charts, and the lead single "No Tomorrow" hit number one as well. In 2007, the band appeared at the Concert for Diana and released their second album, Culture Vultures, which won them Best International Breakthrough Act at the Brit Awards. After some more touring and festival appearances, however, they decided to call it a day. Pebworth and Astasio, together with Xenomania's Jon Shave, started a successful backroom songwriting collaboration dubbed The Invisible Men; Cano, Lonely and Roentgen went on to form the band Goldsboro. ~ Jason Ankeny